Current position:Founder and Chairman of Graphisoft SE, Graphisoft Park SE, and Aquincum Institute of Technology (AIT)

Gabor Bojar founded the architectural software company Graphisoft in 1982 in Hungary.Today Graphisoft is the worldwide market leader in the field of 3D building modeling.Graphisoft Park SE a real-estate enterprise, spin-off of the software firm, re-cultivated an industrial site on the bank of the river Danube and turned it into a state-of-the art science park, which now hosts Microsoft, SAP, Servier and many other high-tech companies.In 2007, Gabor established a school of information technology and entrepreneurship for an international student body.AIT is an example of social entrepreneurship demonstrating the viability of a self-sustaining investment in higher education.

María GARAÑA

Current position:President of Microsoft Spain.

María Garaña Corces is the President of Microsoft Spain since July 1st 2008.Previously she was the South Cone regional director for Microsoft and directly responsible for Microsoft business operations in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay.

She has a wide international experience, having lived in Brazil, Turkey, USA, Mexico, Argentina and Europe.She has a MBA from Harvard Business School, an International Trade Diploma by Berkeley University and a bachelor degree in Law and Business Administration from San Pablo University in Madrid (Spain).

María Garaña is the President of Foro Con-R, a Foundation focused on improve employability and social integration of people with disabilities.She is also a member of the Young Presidents´ Organization Group (YPO) and of the International Women Forum (IWF).She serves in the Board of Directors of “Fundacion Equidad” and Junior Achievement Foundation, non-profit organizations that promotes social equity through Information Technology.She is also member of the ESADE Professional Board and the American Chamber of Commerce Board in Spain.In 2009, María Garaña was appointed Businesswoman of the Year by the Spanish Association of Businesswomen (FEDEPE).

Dr Ulf J. JOHANSSON

Current position:Chairman of the board of Novo A/S and Novo Nordisk Foundation.

Ulf J. Johansson is chairman of the board of Novo Nordisk Foundation.In 1990, he founded Europolitan Holdings AB, a Swedish GSM mobile telephone operator, which was publicly listed from 1994 to 2003.He was chairman of the board of Europolitan Vodafone AB until 2005.He served as Chairman of the board of the Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm from 1998 to 2003

Dr Johansson was a member of the board of directors of Novo Nordisk A/S from 1998 to 2005.In 2000, he joined theboard of Novo A/S of which he has been chairman since 2005.In 2005, he was also appointed chairman of the board of the Novo Nordisk Foundation, member of the board of TelefonAB LM Ericsson.

Elpida KERAVNOU-PAPAILIOU

Current position:Rector of the Cyprus University of Technology.

Elpida Keravnou-Papailiou is the rector of the Cyprus University of Technology, assuming her duties on January 4th 2012.At the University of Cyprus she served as vice-rector for academic affairs, as dean of the School of Pure and Applied Sciences (1999-2002) and as the first chairperson of the Department of Computer Science (1994-1998).She also served as resident of the governing board of the Cyprus University of Technology (2009-2010).

In the context of her responsibilities as vice-rector for academic affairs, she coordinated the implementation of the Bologna reforms at the University of Cyprus.

Dr Jana KOLAR

Current position:Head of research, founder and majority owner of Morana rtd.

Jana Kolar is the founder of Morana rtd.In 1990 she was employed by the Conservation department of the National and University Library.She was head of the Conservation and Preservation department between 1992-2005.Between 2005-2009, she was employed as the head of the Laboratory for Cultural Heritage.In 2004-2009, she was director of MORANA RTD.She was director general of the Science and Technology Directorate within the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology.

She has also been a consultant to the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology (Slovenian EU Presidency 2008) and Slovenian Research Agency.

Prof.Marja MAKAROW

Current position:Vice-president for research of the Academy of Finland.

Marja Makarow is professor of applied biochemistry and molecular biology, and former vice-rector for research, doctoral training and innovation at the University of Helsinki.She served as chief executive of the European Science Foundation in 2008-2011.

Marja Makarow was advisor to the EU Commissioner for Research and Innovation as vice-chair of the European Research Area Board till early 2012.She advised the Finnish Government and Parliament in the Council for Research and Innovation Policy that recently modernised the national university system.She is implementing the University Act in her capacity as vice-chair of the new Aalto University.

Prof. Peter OLESEN

Current position:Chairman of the Danish Council for Strategic Research.

Peter Olesen is chair of the board of the Danish Council for Strategic Research.He spent 25 years as research director, VP R&D and executive VP/CSO in four major international food and food ingredients companies:Danisco A/S (DK) 1983-93;Sandoz Seeds Ltd. (France) 1994-95;CPKelco/Hercules Inc. (DK & US) 1996-2000;Chr.Hansen A/S (DK) 2000-2008.He has held three appointments as affiliated professor at the University of Copenhagen:Plant Sciences 1986-91 and 1993-98;Functional Foods 2008-13.In addition, he was employed as part-time MSO professor at the Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology at LIFE, University of Copenhagen 2009-11.

Today, he is manager of his own company, ActiFoods, which offers counseling and knowledge sharing to companies and research institutions within food and health

Dr. Patrick PRENDERGAST

Current position:Provost/President of Trinity College Dublin.

Patrick Prendergast is provost of Trinity College Dublin.He held the chair of bio-engineering from 2007 to 2011.He has been a visiting professor in the Institute of Fundamental Technological Research in Warsaw and the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia in Barcelona.He was senior research fellow at the Technical University of Delft in the Netherlands and has also held several positions in Trinity College such as director of the Centre for Bioengineering, dean of graduate studies and vice-provost/chief academic officer of the University of Dublin.

Dr. Prendergast is widely known internationally, having held several high profile positions in national and international scientific societies.He was president of the European Society of Biomechanics from 2002-2004;president of the European Alliance of Medical and Biological Engineering and Science (EAMBES) in 2007;and elected as a founding fellow of EAMBES in March 2012.

Bruno REVELLIN-FALCOZ

Current position:President of the National Academy of Technologies of France.

Bruno Revellin-Falcoz is the former vice chairman of Dassault Aviation Corp.

Graduated engineer of Sup’Aéro, he joined Dassault Aviation in 1963 until 2008.He was appointed senior vice president engineering in 1982 and carried the technical responsibility of all Dassault’s civilian and military aeronautical and space programmes.Throughout his career, Bruno Revellin‑Falcoz set up and built on partnerships with various public R&D laboratories in order to develop co-operation leading to industrial applications.

Gianfelice ROCCA

Current position:Chairman of Techint Group.

Gianfelice Rocca is chairman of the Techint Group and is member of the board of directors of Tenaris and Ternium.He is president and founder of the "Istituto Clinico Humanitas", one of the most important hospitals in Europe.

He is chairman of the board of IIT (the Italian Institute of Technology), and chairman of the advisory committee of ANVUR (the Italian National Agency for the Evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes).From May 2004 to May 2012 he was vice president for Education of Confindustria, the leading association of Italian industrialists.

He sits on the board of directors of Allianz SpA, Brembo SpA, Buzzi Unicem SpA.He is a member of the Allianz SE Advisory Board, of the Aspen Institute Executive Committee, of the Harvard Business School Advisory Board and of the Trilateral Commission.He is president of the “Fondazione Fratelli Agostino and Enrico Rocca”.

In June 2007 he was appointed Cavaliere del Lavoro of the Italian Republic and in March 2009 he was presented with a honoris causa degree in management engineering by Milan Politecnico.In 2010 he received from the president of the Italian Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, the 2009 Leonardo Award.

Gianfelice Rocca graduated cum laude in Physics at University of Milan and holds a postgraduate degree from Harvard Business School.

Prof. Nigel THRIFT

Current position:Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick.

Nigel Thrift is the current vice-chancellor of the University of Warwick and a world-leading academic in the field of human geography.

Warwick is known for its close links with industry, especially through the Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG).Since joining Warwick, Professor Thrift has led the University on a programme of substantial, innovative and selective internationalisation, culminating in a unique strategic alliance with Monash University (Australia), and Warwick’s recent selection as the only European university member of the new Centre for Urban Science and Progress in New York (CUSP).

Prior to joining Warwick in 2006, he was the pro-vice-chancellor for research at the University of Oxford (2005-06) and head of the Division of Life and Environmental Sciences at Oxford (2003-05).

Jeroen VAN DER VEER

Current position:Non-executive Director of Shell Company

Born October 27, 1947.A Dutch national, appointed as non-executive director of Shell Company with effect from July 2009.

Previously, he was chief executive since October 2004.He was appointed president of Royal Dutch Petroleum Company in 2000, having been a Managing Director since 1997.He was a director of Shell Canada Limited from 2003 until 2005.He was named chief executive in 2004 and led Shell through major change, simplifying governance and organization, while clarifying accountabilities.

In 2009-2010 Jeroen was vice-chairman of a group of experts who advised for a new strategic concept for NATO.He was world president of the Society of Chemical Industry from 2002 to 2004.From 2000-2004 he served as a supervisory board member of the Dutch Central Bank.He is advisor to Oman since 2009.He chaired ‘Platform Beta Techniek’, a governmental institute promoting education in science and technology from 2009 – 2011.He was vice-chairman and senior independent director of Unilever (which includes Unilever N.V. and Unilever plc) to May 2011.

Nowadays (besides his above mentioned role for Shell Company) Jeroen is chairman of the supervisory boards of Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. and of ING Group.He also has various roles in several foundations and charities.

EIT Governing Board 2008 appointed members – curriculum vitae

Prof. Alexander VON GABAIN

EIT Chairman

Strategic Advisor to the Board of Intercell AG, Chair of the SAB and Co-Founder

Alexander von Gabain obtained his Ph.D. in genetics at the University of Heidelberg and held a post-doctorate position at the Stanford University.In the 1980s and 1990s, he was Professor at the University of Umeå and at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm , as well as an advisor to pharmaceutical and biotech companies.From 1992 to 1998, he was chair of microbiology of the University of Vienna at the Campus Vienna Biocenter and has helped to build the public private partnership of the Vienna Biocenter/IMP. In 1998, he co- founded Intercell AG and led the company as CEO until it was successfully floated on the Vienna Stock Exchange in 2005.From 2005 to 2009, he was member of the executive management board and CSO.Since then, he has been serving as strategic advisor and chair of the scientific advisory board.

His research interest is in the field of biomedical research and documented by a large number of publications, book chapters and patents.He is professor of microbiology at the Max Perutz Laboratories of the University of Vienna, and foreign adjunct professor at the Karolinska Institute, member of several professional organizations and serves on the boards of biotech enterprises, including TVM Capital, Munich.His achievements have been acknowledged by prestigious industrial awards, academic prizes, honourable memberships, including the Swedish Royal Academy of Engineering Science.

Alexander von Gabain was appointed as an initial member of the EIT’s governing board on 30 July 2008;on 15 September 2011 he took up his position as the second EIT Governing Board Chairperson.

Dr. Daria GOLEBIOSWSKA TATAJ

EIT Executive Committee Member

Professor/Researcher, Warsaw University of Technology Business School

Since the launch of the EIT in 2008, Dr. Golebiowska-Tataj is a member of the EIT Governing Board’s executive committee and has been leading the development of the EIT’s innovative entrepreneurship agenda.She has a background in humanities and business and was a scholar of the French government at the Sorbonne University and of George Soros at the Central European University.She holds a PhD from the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Daria has had an entrepreneurial business career is the emerging markets of Central and Eastern Europe.She worked in investment banking and venture capital in media, telecom and ICT sectors.She held supervisory board positions in technology start-ups and was a founder and a managing partner of EMF Enterprise Management and Finance, a consulting practice.She was also in charge of EU/EBRD SME Finance Facilities in the banking sector helping large banks in the region restructure their small and medium size enterprise lending.In 2006, her activity as a social entrepreneur supporting women leaders was recognized by the US Department of State and Fortune Magazine.She became a member of Vital Voices Global Partnership and the first president of its Polish chapter.

At present, she is pursuing her academic interests as a professor and researcher at Warsaw University of Technology Business School and is an affiliate faculty member at the Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Michigan.Her research covers creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and their impact on the economic and social development.She is an expert to the Lisbon Council, a Brussels-based think tank, and is also advising the Polish Government on its research and innovation agenda.

Prof. Maex obtained her PhD in electrical engineering at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.Having started her academic career as a research assistant (1982-1987) she became research director (1987), assistant professor at K.U.Leuven (1989), then professor (1998) and finally full professor (2003).Between 2002-2005 she was a member of K.U.Leuven’s Research Council and founder-coordinator of the Erasmus Mundus programme on nanoscience and nanotechnology.In 2005, she was appointed vice-rector for science, engineering and technology at K.U.Leuven.Meanwhile at IMEC (Interuniversity Microelectronics Center), of which she is a fellow since 2001, she was strategic research adviser for the Division on Semiconductor Process and Device Technology (2001-2005) and programme director of the IMEC Industrial Affiliate Programme (IIAP) on Nanotechnology (2004-2005).

Prof. Maex is currently vice-rector for science, engineering and technology and a full professor at K.U.Leuven, where she is also responsible for human resources and diversity policy.

Dr. Peter TROPSCHUH

Head of AutoUni, Volkswagen Group

Dr. Tropschuh obtained his PhD in engineering at the Munich Technical University, where he was also assistant lecturer (1983-1988).During this time, he simultaneously carried out freelance work in engineering and design offices across Germany.In 1988 he joined Audi, where his appointments have included senior supervisor of Interior Engineering and Body Testing, Head of Vehicle Concepts, Head of Development Management, and head of the research projects division.He has also been general secretary of AUDI AG.Since 2006, Dr. Tropschuh has been the head of AutoUni at Volkswagen Group.

Dr. Tropschuh is a lecturer at the Munich Technical University and among other memberships and honorary appointments, he is honorary senator of Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), member of the advisory board of St. Gallen University (Switzerland), member of the Senat of GISMA Business School (Hannover), member of the advisory board of TÜV Süd (Munich), member of the advisory board of Foundation Lower Saxony (Stiftung Niedersachsen, Hannover), member of the Curatorium of Foundation New Responsibility (Kuratorium Neue Verantwortung, Berlin), member of the board of directors of FAT (Forschungsvereinigung Automobiltechnik im VDA, Frankfurt), member of the advisory board of DLR (Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt, Köln) and member of the advisory board of Automotive Cluster Bavaria (Automobil Cluster Bayern, Munich).

Linnar VIIK

Former Director, Skype Technologies Ltd

Associate Professor and Member of the Board, Estonian Information Technology College

Mr. Viik obtained an M.Sc.(information technology and informatics) at the Tallinn Technical University and an M.Sc./Postgraduate diploma (international economy) at the Helsinki University of Technology.Having worked as a management consultant at KPMG (Estonia and London) between 1993-1995 he became chairman of the board of the IT company Meediamaa Ltd. (1995-1998) and chairman of the supervisory board of Netexpress Ltd. (1998-1999) before becoming member of the board of directors and head of the Multimedia Department of Levicom Ltd. He was also an advisor to the prime minister of Estonia (1999-2001).In 2001 he co-founded Mobi Solutions Ltd. and was member of the board there until 2007.In 2004 he founded Keelevara Ltd., of which he is still chairman of the supervisory board.

Mr. Viik was director of Skype Access at Skype Technologies Ltd. (2007-2009) and since 2000 has been lecturing at the Estonian IT College, where he was made member of the board in 2003.

Prof. Wolfgang HERRMANN

President, Technische Universität München

Prof. Herrmann obtained his PhD in chemistry at the Universität Regensburg, where he became a pProfessor (Institute of Inorganic Chemistry) in 1979 following a career as a researcher.He was made chair professor of inorganic chemistry at the Universität Frankfurt/Main (1982) and chair professor at the Technische Universität München (1985).He became president of the Technische Universität München in 1995 and was re-elected in 1999, 2005 and 2007.He was chairman of the Bavarian University Rectors Conference (2002-2004) and chairman of "Universität Bayern e.V" (2004-2005).He is a member of the editorial board of numerous scientific journals and editor of the Journal of Organometallic Chemistry since 1994.He is also a member of the supervisory board of the E.ON Energie AG and member of the supervisory board of Evonik Industries AG.

Prof. Herrmann is currently president of the Technische Universität München and a bember of the International Advisory Council, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Saudi Arabia.He belongs to the top-100 group of the worldwide most-cited chemists and holds numerous honorary PhD´s from Europe, USA, Russia and China.